History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests / compiled from the official records of the county, the newspapers and data of personal interviews, under the editorial supervision of Thaddeus D. Seeley.

364

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY

meet at the Hodges House on the i8th of February. At the second meeting Brother Loop reported his success and presented a dispensation
worded as follows:
"To All Free and Accepted Masons on the Surface of the Globe:
"Know ye that I, Martin Davis, do hereby authorize and impower
Our Masonic Brothren of the Town of Pontiac, County of Oakland and
State of Michigan to form a new Lodge Known by the Name of Pontiac
Lodge No. 8 To be Located in Said Township.
"And I do hereby appoint Leonard Weed to be their first Master and
Jacob Loop To be their first Senior Warden and Daniel V. Bissil to be
their first Junior Warden And I do hereby fully authorise and Impower
Said Lodge to make Entered apprentice Masons Pass Fellow Crafts and
raise them to the Sublime degree of a Master Mason according To the
antiant usages and Custom of the Fraternity. I do further order and
Command the brotheren of Said lodge to observe And Obey the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of the State of Michigan together with the
Rules and regulations of the Same.
"In Testimony hereof I hereby Set my hand and Seal this I3th day
of Feb. in A. D. 1841 and In the year of Masonry, 584I.
"MARTIN DAVIS, Grand Junior Warden."
The lodge continued to work in Pontiac, leaving very complete records until its charter was forfeited.
On June 24, 1842, the lodge celebrated St. John's day by services at
the Presbyterian Meeting House, followed by a banquet at the Hodges
House. Toasts to "Masonry in America-like Daniel in the lions' den
it has escaped unhurt," and "The Ladies-the brightest jewels of the
craft," were drunk in "iced water," Washingtonian style.
When it became known that the Grand Lodge of Michigan could
not obtain recognition because of its irregular formation, Oakland Lodge
applied for and received a new charter from the Grand Lodge of New
York under the name Oakland Lodge, No. IOI. A period of inactivity
and indifference followed.
On September 17, 1844, Brother Calvin Hotchkiss was present as the
representative of Oakland Lodge, No. IoI, at the convention of delegates that re-organized the present Grand Lodge of Michigan.
From this time interest died down until the Grand Lodge demanded
the charter in I847 because of non-payment of dues.
On November 12, 1847, a dispensation was granted for a new lodge
and Pontiac Lodge, No. 21, sprang into existence and has since occupied
the field formerly held by Oakland Lodge. The jewels and furniture of
Oakland Lodge, which had been surrendered, were loaned to the new
lodge, which thus became fully equipped for work.
For fifty years Pontiac Lodge has enjoyed a healthy growth, resultin a present lodge membership of four hundred. Since 1897 it has been
located in a comfortable home of its own.
PONTIAC LODGE No. 21
Pontiac Lodge No. 21, F. & A. M., was organized July I6, 1822, as
Oakland Lodge No. 3 under jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of New
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